Career best vaults Amanda Fassold to McDonnell victory
FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback vaulter Amanda Fassold set a pair of outdoor career best marks in winning the pole vault during a cold and windy outing at the John McDonnell Invitational on Friday afternoon.
“To win in these conditions it shows you’re able to preserve through the weather and look past it while getting good jumps in,” said Fassold. “It shows you’re able to push past that. I think it’s awesome that we were all able to come out here and clear some bars.”
Arkansas finished first through fifth in the pole vault. Mackenzie Hayward and Kaitlyn Banas finished second and third as each cleared 13-2.5 (4.03). Bailee McCorkle placed fourth at 12-8.75 (3.88) while Grace Ridgeway was fifth with a 12-2.75 (3.73) clearance.
Fassold, who placed third at the Texas Relays a couple of weeks ago, was clean through the first four heights she attempted. Fassold needed two attempts at 14-0.5 (4.28), matching her previous outdoor best, and then cleared 14-4.5 (4.38) on her third attempt to set a career best.
“I was just trying to find it in myself to keep going,” stated Fassold of clearing a PR height on a third attempt. “I really love the consistency I had on the first few heights, and that’s what I hope for.
“Sometimes it’s not like that, and I have to fine tune things, grab a bigger pole, and plant bigger to make it over that bar with third attempt juice.”
On the UA all-time list Fassold is equal No. 8, matching the height of Desiree Freier. Fassold is currently eighth among collegians for the 2022 outdoor season.
“To be honest, I’m actually really bad at understanding when to go with the wind,” noted Fassold. “Coach yells at me a little bit for it. So, I still need to figure that out, when to find the perfect timing.
“I’m just getting out here and trying to push through the wind and the cold weather while getting some good jumps in. That was the goal today.”
Other victories on the day for Arkansas, among limited competition by the Razorbacks, included Kennedy Thomson in the 800m along with incoming Razorback freshman Mia Cochran in the 3,000m.
Thomson clocked 2:10.01 to claim the 800m over Sierra Williams of Missouri State, who posted a 2:10.60. Carmie Prinsloo finished sixth in 2:13.71.
Cochran, of Moon Area High School in Pennsylvania, ran 9:42.92 for the victory over current Razorbacks London Culbreath (9:56.99) and Adoette Vaughan (9:59.97). Cochran had a 1k split of 3:10.04, establishing a five-second lead on the field behind the pacing effort of Isabel Van Camp (3:09.78).
Recently, Cochran was announced as a nominee for national girls Cross Country Runner of the Year by USA Today among its High School Sports Awards. The winner of the award will be announced on July 31.
